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Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
Cannabis use and human retina: The path for the study of brain synaptic transmission dysfunctions in cannabis users
Thomas Schwitzer1, Raymund Schwan2, Karine Angioi-Duprez3
1Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie d'Adultes du Grand Nancy, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Laxou, France; INSERM U1114, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Département de Psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Abstract:
Owing to the difficulty of obtaining direct access to the functioning brain, new approaches are needed for the indirect exploration of brain disorders in neuroscience research. Due to its embryonic origin, the retina is part of the central nervous system and is well suited to the investigation of neurological functions in psychiatric and addictive disorders. In this review, we focus on cannabis use, which is a crucial public health challenge, since cannabis is one of the most widely used addictive drugs in industrialized countries. We first explain why studying retinal function is relevant when exploring the effects of cannabis use on brain function. Next, we describe both the retinal electrophysiological measurements and retinal dysfunctions observed after acute and regular cannabis use. We then discuss how these retinal dysfunctions may inform brain synaptic transmission abnormalities. Finally, we present various directions for future research on the neurotoxic effects of cannabis use.
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